A lot, alot or allot: which is correct?

A lot answers a question about how much, how many, how often or to what degree. It describes a quantity or the extent of an action. Keep a and lot as separate words, even when they sound joined in speech.

Allot names an action: someone gives a share of the available time, money, space or another resource to a person or purpose. You can often check the meaning by trying assign. Alot is not a standard alternative for either a lot or allot.

When you mean a large number of separate people or things, use a lot of before a plural noun. Of connects the quantity phrase to the noun. A lot books leaves out that connection.

The noun remains plural because the phrase describes several items. In an ordinary statement, the verb agrees with that plural: a lot of people are, rather than a lot of people is. The article a belongs to the phrase a lot; it does not make people singular.

A lot of also describes a large amount of something uncountable. Water, time, work and information keep their usual uncountable forms. There is no need to change a lot of when you move from a number of books to an amount of work.

Choose the verb from the uncountable noun. A lot of work takes a singular verb in an ordinary sentence. If you want to count units, name them: a lot of bottles of water has the plural unit bottles.

A lot can stand alone when the sentence or conversation makes the amount clear. It can also describe how often an action happens or how much someone does or likes something. Do not leave of at the end without the noun it needs.

When a lot describes the degree of an action, it normally comes after the verb and any object. Keep enjoyed the concert together, then place a lot after it. Putting a lot between an ordinary verb and its object makes this pattern unnatural.

A lot can come before a comparative form to show a large difference. Comparative forms include easier, better, more expensive and less crowded. Here, a lot describes the size of the difference, so it does not need of.

Do not use this pattern directly before an ordinary adjective such as easy. Use very easy for a strong description, or a lot easier when you compare two situations. Check whether the sentence is describing one quality or comparing it with another.

Allot needs something to assign. You can allot time to a task, space to a group or a share of money to a project. The amount does not have to be large. Allot describes the decision to assign it, not its size.

Two common patterns are allot something to someone and allot someone something. You can also allot time for an activity. After will or to, use the base form allot. In a positive present simple sentence with a singular subject, use allots.

The past form of allot is allotted, and the -ing form is allotting. Both double the final t. Allotted can describe an action in the past or form part of a passive phrase such as was allotted.

In a passive sentence, the receiver can come first. Starting with each speaker puts the focus on the person who received the time. The word allotted can also describe the assigned time or space before a noun. In every case, it keeps the assignment meaning.

A lot of is common in everyday conversation and ordinary messages. More formal writing may use many, a large number of or a large amount of, depending on the noun and purpose. A lot remains two words in every style; formal writing does not make alot correct.

When editing, check meaning first, then the sentence pattern. A quantity before a noun needs a lot of. Degree after an action can use a lot. Assigning a share needs allot in the right verb form. A precise amount can sometimes help your reader more than any general quantity phrase.